Lord’s Bank Kids Drawn Together by Sports Camps

For the past two weeks, dozens of children, including a handful of teenagers, have been participating in a sports summer camp in Lord’s Bank. The initiative, organized by the village council, is designed for participants to learn the fundamentals of a range of sports, but most importantly to forge lasting friendships. That objective has been met despite the relatively short span the kids were given to play ball and get to know each other. This afternoon, during a brief ceremony each participant was recognized by coordinators of the program. News Five’s Isani Cayetano was on hand for the commencement.

Isani Cayetano, Reporting

A two-week summer camp in Lord’s Bank Village is serving to further integrate a community that is creating harmony among its younger generation through sports.

Shirlette Martinez

Shirlette Martinez, Chairperson, Lord’s Bank Village

“Around this time there’s always summer camp so the children of our village look forward to something from the council. So we decided that we’re going to join the rest of the country and have a sports summer camp and so we have decided to do different sports focusing on basketball, volleyball, football and a new sport kickball.”

Ixchell Ellis, Summer Camp Participant

“I learned how to play volleyball and kickball.”

Isani Cayetano

“It says, “Creating lasting friendships through sports.” Do you believe that this has helped you to meet new people and create that kind of friendship with them?”

Ixchell Ellis

Ixchell Ellis

“Yes sir.”

Isani Cayetano

“Identify for me some of the friends that you’ve met since this program began.”

“And are these going to be people that you’re going to be in touch with throughout the course of the year since you’ve made new friends of them?”

Ixchell Ellis

“Yes sir.”

Isani Cayetano

“What has the reception been like from the kids who have participated in this program?”

Shirlette Martinez

“So far it’s been great. I don’t think the kids are ready for today. Today is the final day and throughout the week we have been doing two weeks of camp. We have been doing competition with them so they are in different groups. Today they will be rewarded and they want to go on, you know. They’re all excited, they’re happy.”

Isani Cayetano

“Talk to us about your involvement in this summer camp. What have you been able to teach these kids and what have you learned from being around them?”

Wilworth ‘Willy’ Williams

Wilworth ‘Willy’ Williams, Instructor

“Well basically we teach dehn football, volleyball, basketball and some ah dehn just di laan bout kick ball. Eena wahn sense we laan that some ah dehn need more guidance and thing at home to right and dehn parents need fi look out fi dehn more to. But basically dehn still di laan too right.”

Isani Cayetano

“For anyone of these children who have participated in this program, what is one of the most important takeaway for them? What do they leave with from here today?”

Shirlette Martinez

“In our country we have a lot of problems with our young people getting involved with crime and violence at a very early age, killing each other. So we’re trying to focus them in a different direction. Our theme is “Creating Lasting Friendships Through Sports” and that is what we’re trying to achieve. Everyday we put it in their heads, we know that if you’re friends with each other you will basically have each other’s back, you’ll lookout for each other, you’ll love each other, you won’t hurt each other and that is what this whole idea with this sports summer camp is about Creating lasting friendships.”

Isani Cayetano

“Now in terms of the friends that you’ve made, are they people that go to your school? Are they new faces that you’re seeing for the first time?”

Darrel Grant

Darrel Grant, Summer Camp Participant

“Some of them sir. Some. Most of them are new people.”

Isani Cayetano

“Now over the past two weeks what has been your favorite sport?”

Darrel Grant

“Football.”

Isani Cayetano

“Do you have any particular football player that you look up to either on the Belize Jaguars or on the international scene?”

Darrel Grant

“Messi.”

Isani Cayetano

“In terms of some of the stuff that you’ve learned about football, does it remind you of something that you could do like Messi?”

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